Eighty minutes isn't enough to separate the Cowboys and Broncos, with Thurston the hero yet again with an extra-time field goal to seal victory. But it came at a cost with a possible ACL for star prop Matt Scott.

Canberra Raiders coach questions whether Clay Priest's sin-binning should have happened.

The Cowboys boast superstar playmaker Johnathan Thurston, but the Raiders are targeting a forward-pack wrecking ball.

North Queensland winger Antonio Winterstein is in doubt for the Cowboys' season opener against Canberra, paving the way for young star Kalyn Ponga to return to the NRL.

In his first game back since breaking his jaw in a sickening tackle from Ryan James, Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco has shown why he's the NRL's next million dollar man.

North Queensland centre Javid Bowen has missed the second half with concussion in the Cowboys' 11-10 NRL trial win against the Sydney Roosters in Mackay.

A lucrative Newcastle offer may force North Queensland prop Matt Scott to abandon his dream of being a one-club NRL player.

North Queensland coach Paul Green says a utility bench spot and a forward pack berth are "up for grabs" ahead of the NRL season kick-off.

On a day that sorely missed the flare of Shaun Johnson, North Queensland sensation Kalyn Ponga showed why Newcastle offered him a $3 million dollar deal over five years despite just two NRL games to his name.

Johnathan Thurston has quashed speculation about his future, confirming he'll play on with North Queensland into the 2018 NRL season.

Knights chief executive Matt Gidley said speculation about the size of Kalyn Ponga's deal had been "wildly exaggerated" after Newcastle confirmed on Monday they had signed the teenage sensation for four years.

Former professional rugby league player Anthony Watts will spend Christmas behind bars after he was denied bail.

SYDNEY, Nov 21 AAP - NRL stars Jason Taumalolo and Valentine Holmes have reportedly travelled to the US to participate in secret NFL trials.

The shock defection of NRL prodigy Kalyn Ponga may yet have a silver lining, North Queensland coach Paul Green says.

Parramatta is set to make a play for North Queensland superstar Kalyn Ponga, believing the rising rookie is the last missing piece in their quest for a drought-breaking premiership.

He is yet to decide whether to pledge his allegiance to Australia or New Zealand, but Kalyn Ponga has just made an important call on his future.

Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk believe Perth is ripe for NRL expansion.

Chad Townsend received a text message shortly after the ignominy of being a halfback hooked against Canberra in the second match of the finals. It read: "Good luck mate, we're all behind you." It is still unknown whether its origin was Lachlan Coote.

Cronulla have just another nine days between them and a chance to end 49 years of false starts and false hope, knocking out the reigning premiers with a 32-20 victory.